Electric switch.



C. j. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION men mAvze, 1911.

l gfime Patented Apr. 10,1917" 2 SHEETS-SHEET lc. 1. KLE IN. ELECTRICSWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 19H- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w Lanai/9 1F 59 Patented Apr 10, 191?,

CHLES J. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 THE CUTLEHAMMJEHJMFG. 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCCNSIIQ'.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1W, 123W.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitches,

of which the followingis a full, clear, concise, vand exact description,reference-being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

My 'nvention relates to electric switches.

In one of its adaptations it more particu-- choosing this adaptation ofmy invention as a means of illustrating its principle, which may beincorporated in various other .forms and used in-various otherrelations.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an improved switch. Afurther object of my invention is .to provide an improved switch of anexceedingly compact type which may be readily placed in position in adoor frame or in any other suitable housing. A still further object ofmy invention is to provide improved means for supporting and inclosing aswitch mechanism. Other objects and advantages of my improvedconstruction will hereinafter a'pear. p In the views of the drawingsillustrating the forms of my invention chosen for purposes ofillustration Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of anassembled switch inclosed in its casing. I

Fig. 2 shows a transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a detail'view of a portion of I the casing.

Fig. 4 shows a pers ective view of the switch base when assem led.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of my improved switch mechanism mounted ina modified form of casing.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the modified form of the casing shownin Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows the blank from which the casing shown in Fig. 5 is made.

Fig. 8 shows the face plate arranged to be used with this form ofeasing.

In these drawings I have illustrated a switch mechanism of the pushbutton type inclosed in a two part'insulating base which latteris-housed in an inclosing casing arranged to be fitted into a suitablechamber formed in the door or other support so that the operating memberof the switch mechanism extends through a suitable face plate.

In a preferred form the switch mechanism is of the same type as thatdescribed in my prior Patent No. 985,241, patented February 28, 1911.However in the construction shown in these drawings the patentedstructure has been considerably modified. As shown in Fig. lthe switchmechanism includes a reciprocable cam member 1 of the conformation of adouble frustum positioned base to base which is arranged to reciprocateon .a shaft 2 extending through the cam member and beyond the ends ofthe same. In a preferred form the cam 1 which is preferably constructedof conducting material has a central bore of a greater diameter than theshaft 2 and is insulated. therefrom by insulating washers 1 set in itsopposite ends.

A reciprocable contactor 3 is arranged to move in a chamber 4 formedbetween the two parts 5 and 6 of a double base to make or break anelectric circuit at terminal members 7 arranged against one of the wallsof the chamber 4. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the cam member 1 is arrangedto reciprocate through the recess 8 communicating with the chamber 4 andto move upon the shaft 2 to compress a spiral spring 9 housed in acorrespondingly shaped chamber 10 in the base member 6 and communicatingwith the chamber 4:. This spring is seated upon a cover plate 11 clampedover the mouth of the chamber 10 and preferably secured to the base 6 bythe screw 12 which passes transversely through the base members andholds the parts of the same in assembled relation. The lower end of thespring 9 encircles the lower end of the shaft 2 which-may be suitablysecured in any manner to the plate 11, whilethe upper end which is ofreduced diameter asshown in Fig. 1,'engages' against a rounded flange 13fixed to the lower end of the cam member 1 but insulated from the sameby a washer 14. The upper end of the an extension 16 having a flange 17on its of the shaft 2 and the end of the extension 16 and to be fixed tothe same by suitably indenting the lower edge of the casing as shown at20 so that the indentations enter the groove formed between the flange17 on the extension 16 and the upper surface of the flange 15 on the cammember 1.

The contactor 3 is preferably of the type described in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 628,782 filed May 22, 1911, Patent No. 1162865,dated December 7 1915,

and carries within the same a garter spring 21 as illustrated in Fig. 1.This contactor is arranged to reciprocate upon the.

cam member in one direction when-the cam member is forced in theopposite direction by the spring 9 or upon pressure being applied to thepush button 19 in order to make or break a circuit at terminals 7carried as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on opposite sides of the bottom ofchamber 4. These terminals 2 are 'preferably provided with a fiatportion which rests upon the bottom of the chamber 4 and are preferablyof a greater length than the chamber, having one of their ends seated invertically extending grooves 23 at the sides of the chamber as shown inFig. 2, while their outer ends are bent upward as shown in Fig. l andthen preferably bent into a plane substantially parallel with the planeof their body portions. The bent portions of the terminals extendthrough grooves 24 on opposite sides of a septum 25 through which thescrew 12 is passed, and their upper ends are secured in recesses 26 byscrews 27. The screws 27 extend vertically upward through the basemember 5 as shown in Fig. 1 to recesses 22 located on opposite sides ofthe upper.

surface of the same wherein they are fixed to terminals 28- carryingbinding screws 29 and ears arranged to facilitate the connection of theconductors to the binding screws.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bases 5 and 6 arranged to house the switchmechanism are preferably of a substantially U-shaped cross section andas shown in Figs. 1 and 2 these bases are arranged to be held inassembled relation by the screw 12. In a preferred form these bases areof an insulating material such as molded stone or porcelain for example,and the parts of the casing may, if desired be sealed together byinserting a certain amount of sealing material in an orifice 30 betweenthe halves of the same.

In a preferred form I preferably mount this switch mechanism and itsinclosing members in a casing which has a substantially oval crosssection as shown :in Fig. 2 and is adapted to receive the rounded endsof the base members. In a preferred form this casing is constructed ofstamped "metal having two side portions 31 and 32 rounded at their endsas illustrated in Fig. 2 and arranged to be secured together as shown inthat figure by providing tongues 33 on opposite sides of the member 32arranged to pass inside of the ends of the member 31 and pass outwardlythrough a perforation or slot 34 in the Wall of thesame and be bent overagainst the outer wall as shown in Fig. 2. In a preferred form ears 35are also bent inward on the sides of the member 32 as shown in Fig. 1'which serve to posiw tion the parts of the base within the casing andthe ears and shank are so bent that the outer surface of the casingmember 32 lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the casingmember 31 at the joint. In a preferred form, in order to permit a snugfit for the base members, longitudinally extending grooves 36 may beformed on the opposite sides of the flat end of the same as shown inFig. 2, to receive the inner ends of the lugs 35. A bottom 37 having aperforation 38 at one of its ends and a slot 39 preferably at itsopposite end is crimped into position between the Walls of the casingmember 32 as shown at 40 in Fig. 1. In a preferred form this bottom 37is provided with oppositely extending projections 41 at its ends whichare adapted to extend through grooves 42 in the bottom of the groovedsides of the casing members 31 and 32. 1

In order to permit a cable or conductor to be clamped in or secured tothe same a cable clamp 43 is provided swiveled on the enlarged end of aclamping member 44. This clamping member 44 is provided with a. hookshaped end 45 arranged to pass throu h the slot 39 in the bottom 37 andpreferably to be housed in a recess 46 in the base member 6. A clampingmember, 44 is threaded intermediate its ends to receive a clamping screw47 which extends through an opening' 48 in the bottom of the casing. The

head of the screw 47 is accessible for operation from withinthe opening38 in the bottom of the casing. Thus it is seen that the box may have acable securely locked within the same'and that the means for drawing theend of the cable into the box is accessible from the inside of the box.In a referred measure I may be provided I preferably provide theseextensions with threaded perforations as at 54 which are adapted toreceive screws 55 passing through perforations arranged to house theheads of the screws in a face plate 56. This face plate is preferablyprovided at each end with bored out portions or recesses 57 arranged toreceive the extensions 51 and 52. At a point above the cam member theface plate is provided with a suitable perforation adapted to permit thepush button 19 to reciprocate through the same to actuate the switchmechanism.

In Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive I have shown a modified form of easing whichis adapted to be used in boxes of various forms. As a rule the boxesprovided for switches of this'type are too large for the switclrmechanism which is herein described since this switch mechanism may bemade up in very compact form to occupy a space decidedly less than thatrequired by the switch mechanisms of this type heretofore known. Inorder to permit my improved switch mechanism to be used with the boxesheretofore known I have provided a modified form of casing which isarranged to fit into any of these boxes and support the switch mechanismin its proper position. As shown in Fig. 5 this casing preferablyconsists of a single piece of sheet metal bent into the substantially Ushape shown in that figure and stamped out as shown in Fig. 6 to formoppositely located perforated lugs 59, inwardly extending cars 60, aperforation 61 and outwardly extending shoulders 62 bent at right anglesto the sides of the casing. In a preferred form the lug 59 is providedwith a threaded perforation 63 and the parts of the casing are all madeintegral as shown in Fig. 5. In a preferred form the inwardly extendingears 60 are provided on the casing beneath the extensions 59 and arearranged to fit into vertically disposed grooves 64 on opposite sides ofthe bases inclosing' the switch mechanism so that the switch bases areaccurately positioned in the easin as shown in Fig. 4. As illustrated inth1s figure the switch mechanism in its inclosin bases liessubstantially flush with the top 0 the shoulders 62, and a face plate 65is arranged to be placed over the switch mechanism and secured by screws66seated in the same to the threaded extensions 59. The face plate usedin this form of construction is preferably provided with perforations 67at its opposite ends arranged to receive suitable screws to be securedto the large retaining box, and is also provided with a perforation 68through which the reciprocable push button of the switch mechanismextends. Further perforations 69 located at the sides of the perforation68 are arranged to receive the screws 66 to secure the inner box to theface plate. Thus when it is desired to use my improved switch devicewith a box of the old construction which is very much too large for thesame the switch device is placed in position in the casing asillustrated in Fig. 4 and the casing is then fixed to the face plate andthe face plate suitably secured to the larger inclosing box. Thus it isseen that my improved switch mechanism may be used with inclosing boxesof various types which are not of the improved compact constructionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

By my improved construction of switch mechanism l[ have provided aswitch which is positive in its action and which is capable of beingused to open a circuit when pressure is applied to the cap or to close acircuit by only changing the location of the contacts in the switchchamber. Further the switch mechanism is of a very rugged constructionwhich is adapted to withstand the shocks and jars to which such amechanism is ordinarily subjected in service and it is of such aconstruction that the contactor may not readily be jarred to change thecircuit connections of the switch. Further the operating member isthrown back to its initial position immediately upon the removal of thepressure upon the same. Furtherby the use of my improved switchmechanism the size of the opening which must be provided to house thesame may be materially reduced. and the time and expense required toinstall the same greatly cut down. Further due to the provision of myimproved box for the switch mechanism the mechanism is firmly held inposition in a convenient form of box against all movement and in such amanner that its parts are not liable to derangement or breakage uponpressure being applied to the operating member. Again by my improvedmeans of drawing the end of a cable into the box and locking the samethe danger of the cable becoming disconnected from the box is removedand the means for drawing the end of this cable into the box and lockingthe same are entirely accessible from the inside of the box. Further,the switch mechanism may be entirely removed from the box when desiredby simply removing the face plate and the parts of the switch mechanismbetween its insulating bases are readily accessible by simply removingthe screw holding these parts together. Further each and every one ofthe parts of the switch mechanism may be readily removed when desired.Various other advantages of my improved construction will readily appearto those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application described in detail specific formswhich my invention may assume in practice, I do not wish to be limitedto these specific constructions since I have only chosen theseconstructions as a means of illustrating the principle of my inventionwhich itself is capable of assuming various other forms than that hereinshown and of being adapted to various other uses.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is asfollows 1. In an electric switch, a movable cam having the conformationof a double frustum positioned base to base, a fixed shaft upon whichsaid cam is arranged to be reciprocated, means for insulating said camfrom said shaft and a relatively movable contactor operated uponmovement of said cam.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a fixed spindle, a cam memberreciproeable thereon, means for operating said cam,-

- contactor and a single means for holding the parts of said basetogether and positioning said cam member.-

4:. In" an electric switch device, a two part base, a push button snapswitch mechanism inclosed therein including a spindle, a reciprocatingcam member and a movable contactor, and means for holding the parts ofsaid base together and said spindle in position in the same.

5. An electric switch including a fixed spindle, a cam memberarranged toreciprocate thereon, a flanged member between one 7 two-part base, aspindle extending therethrough, a snap switch mechanism mounted on saidspindle between the parts of said base and common means for securing theparts of said base together and positioning said spindle therein.

8. In combination, an insulating base, a switch mechanism carriedthereby having terminals, a casing to receive said base snugly withinone end thereof, said casing having a conductor space at its oppositeend, said switch terminals being located at the end of said baseadjacent said conductor space and accessible after assembly of said basewithin said casing, a clamping arm pivoted outside said casing with itsfree-end adjacent said conductor space, and a screw operable from withinsaid casing to draw the free end of said arm toward said casing to clampa cable within said space for connection with said terminals.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

H. L. ROCKWELL, Gno. HAYNES.

